HUMAN MICROBIAL DISEASES - 2021/2

Module code: BMS3079

Module Overview

The module will explore the mechanism by which human pathogens interact with their host to cause a disease and this will relate and deepen the knowledge acquired at level 4 and 5 on general microbiology and virology. In addition at Level 6 this module will form part of a more global overview of human-pathogen interactions explored within the Immunology and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases modules. 

Module provider

School of Biosciences and Medicine

Module Leader

MALUQUER DE MOTES Carlos (Biosc & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 116

Tutorial Hours: 4

Guided Learning: 15

Captured Content: 15

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Prerequisite: BMS2037 Cellular Microbiology and Virology

Module content





Module introduction-Coursework description and input

Intracellular survival of bacterial pathogens




Type III secretion systems in enteric bacteria




Bacterial toxins

Host Pathogen interactions in Neisseria

Host Pathogen interactions in Mycobacteria

Host Pathogen interactions in Streptococci

Host Pathogen interactions in Protozoa

Retroviruses and AIDS




Herpes viruses

Viruses and oncogenesis




Viral gastroenteritis




Dengue virus and immunopathogenesis

HPV and vaccine development




 

2 tutorials to help with coursework assignment

2 tutorials to help with examination and assay Q




Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Online Scheduled Summative Class Test Online (Open Book) EMQ (60 mins) and Short-Answer Question (40 mins) Test 50
Examination Online Online (Open Book) EMQ (60 mins) and Short-Answer Question (40 mins) Exam 50

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

that students have obtain a deep understanding of the diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and protozoa and their pathogenesis.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

100-min in-class test with 12 Extended-matched multiple choice questions (EMQ) and 2 essay questions to pick from a choice of 3, assessing students understanding of the first semester block on bacterial and protozoal pathogenesis

100-min final examination with 12 Extended-matched multiple choice questions (EMQ) and 2 essay questions to pick from a choice of 3, assessing students understanding of the second semester block on viral pathogenesis

Formative assessment and feedback

The students will receive timely feedback during the course of the semester by engaging in interactive teaching activities that will allow them to monitor their progress.

The module coordinator will discuss assessment strategy during the initial tutorial and teaching staff will highlight during the two pre-exam tutorial general points that are key for succeeding in the coursework completion. These tutorials will also address questions from students about past exam questions and collectively students will attempt to answer a couple of them, which will also involved peer-marking. Importantly the timetabling is allowing a week without lecture ahead of the interim in-class test to aid with revision.

Module aims

  • To use specific examples of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and protozoa to illustrate and explore aspects of microbial disease pathogenesis including Virulence mechanisms
  • To use specific examples of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and protozoa to illustrate and explore aspects of microbial disease pathogenesis including toxins
  • To use specific examples of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and protozoa to illustrate and explore aspects of microbial disease pathogenesis including secretion systems
  • To use specific examples of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and protozoa to illustrate and explore aspects of microbial disease pathogenesis including intracellular survival
  • To use specific examples of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and protozoa to illustrate and explore aspects of microbial disease pathogenesis including immunity
  • To use specific examples of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and protozoa to illustrate and explore aspects of microbial disease pathogenesis including disease
  • To use specific examples of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and protozoa to illustrate and explore aspects of microbial disease pathogenesis including autoimmunity

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
001 Describe the pathogenesis of a range of bacterial, viral and protozoal diseases including diseases caused by enteric bacteria, neisseria, mycobacteria, legionella, staphylococci, streptococci, protozoa and major human viruses KCT
002 Describe structure-function relationships for bacterial toxins KC
003 Discuss what is meant by a virulence gene KC
004 Describe the role of type III secretion systems in pathogenesis KC
005 Describe how bacteria and viruses survive and replicate intracellularly KC
007 Discuss how microbes and viruses interact with host defences to cause disease pathology KCT
008 Discuss how microbes and viruses interact with host defences to cause immune pathology KCT
006 Describe how bacteria and viruses regulate genes in response to the host environment KCT

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Ensure a deep understanding of learning outcomes. This will be achieved by using different teaching methods implementing constructivist approaches and interactive learning methods (Think Pair Share; Interactive inquiry; problem based learning).  The distinct lecture topics are not clustered and there is a clear progression and connection throughout the model, which will help the student build on their previous knowledge as they advance in the model. This will allow them to achieve a deeper level of understanding.

The learning and teaching methods include:


  • 27h of lectures over 11 weeks with between 1 to 4h per week

  • 4h of tutorial, with the first after 2 weeks, to help student understand how to read papers. The second after 6 weeks to answer open questions regarding the coursework. The other two tutorials are held at the end of each teaching block to go through past exam questions.

  • Of critical importance, post exams, ALL students can book 15min 1-2-1 with the MO to go through their exam papers. 


Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMS3079

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Microbiology BSc (Hons) 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Biomedical Science BSc (Hons) 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Biological Sciences BSc (Hons) 1 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.